The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-04-03
HIS HONOR THE JUDGE.

The case of the State VS.. John Lutf
was the sensation OF, the day when l
landed in Silvertown.
Ny visit to this rough mining town
was matter of business, and I was
somewhat annoyed to find that the
people were inclined to talk OF moth
ing but the killing of Henry Saxon and
the trial of his murderer.
But the story of the crime interested
me in spite Oh myself. The murder had
occurred in the Metropolitan Hotel, the
very house in which L had engaged
roum for week.
The scene of the killing was the room
next to mine. Several days before my
arrival the room was occupied by John
Luf and Henry Saxon two well-known
sporting men, who had been making
Sivertown their headquarters during
the winter. The two men were chuns.
but sometimes they quarreled in their
cups, and it was no uncommon thing
for them to fight. After adjusting their
differences, however, they generally
tumbled into the same bed ana slept
like brothers. Their last quarrel had q
fatal termination. After a bout with
their fists in the hotel Office they retired
to their room. Later in the night &
loud shout caused several of the guest
20 rush in, and they saw q spectacle
that frOze their blood. On the bed was
stretched the lifeless form OF Saxon,
with a crimson current gushing from
his breast. By his side stood Luff, oAe
hand ST bloody, and his manner
betraying ungoYernable fear and excite
ment.
The Silverton miners and tradesmen
we've not long in coming to conclusion
The coroner's jury made it out case
OF wiliful murder, and fastened the
guilt upon Luff. It was FL vain tina
Lutf expressed bis horror. He declared
that sor2e one had entered the room.
Awakened by noise, he placed his
hand On Saxon and felt the warm blood
flowing from the wound. Springing TO
his feet he turned on the light, and when
be saw his friend he gave q frenzied CRY
for help.
Uf course, nobody believed this story
TO make the matter worse, g. small dag
ger belonging to Luff was missing from
its usual place on the mantel. 1t was
only too evident that the murderer bad
stabbed bis friend to the heart with this
weapon, and had hen conceal q it. The
room was searched, but the dagger
could not be found. Doubtless Luti had
thrown it into the street, where it had
been picked up by some unknown
person.
There is little delay about frontier
justice when victim is wanted, and in
this instance the whole tewn c!amored
for one. Court was in session. and
Judge ike shared the general excite
ment. He was one of the guests at the
Metropolitan, and the fact that mis- room
was opposite the one in which the
murder was committed naturally in
creased his interest in the case.
With Judge Pike on the bench there
was little doubt concerning the result.
An Indictment was found in no time,
and the trial opened on the second day
of my stay in S1VeTton.
The Defendants attorney worked for
a delay. They hoped that protracted
trial would have the effect OF cooling the
hSt excitement OF the hour.
| spent the first day of the trial in the
Court House, and watched the defendant
closely. Luf had rather good face. 1t
was weak, but Lot vicious, and, as
studied him, found myself sympathiz-
iEg with hlm.
That night [ had singular expert
ence. After supper l spent q couple of
hours in Judge Pixies room, and it did
not take me long to come to the cOnclu
81 IN that his honor vas very peculiar
man. There was something wrong
about him. He could not be called
crank, bat his nerves were evidently out
order, and it occurred 70 me that he was
liable to break down at any time:
II was past midnight when [ awoke.
The moonlight streamed into nav room,
making every object in it plainly visi-
bic. Feeling thirsty, left ipy bsd and
went behind littla screen il Cne corner
of the room where the waShstand stood
to get drink Of wat r. While | was
there aeard The door open softly. This
was not surprising, as The hotel was a
rude affair. and very few Ct the doors
provided With locks and Keys. The
thought OF Saxon'S fate made me
little timid, and 1 remained quietly
behind the screen, awaiting further
Developments.
To my anutterable astonishmenJ, who
SnOOlO- en- er the uOOT Out UuSe flke-
My first impulse was TO speak, but
what saw silenced me. The Judge
was IN his night clothes. One look st
his face convinced me that he was
asleep. In his right hand he carried 4
dagger.
What was to do with this somnam-
bulist? It wouls be dangerous TO
awaken him. decided 10 wait and
With stealtby ste; s tie Judg' adj
vanced TO the side of the bed. de felt
cautiously with his left haud, until be
telt a bunch IL the covering. and len.
with tie r,piijty OF lightning, he drove
his dagger into the beGclothes up to the
hiIt. He did not tarry a second, but
quietly vanished from the room, closing
the door after him.
As soon as l could 1 barricaGed the
door with several pieces of furniture.
Then I sat COS'n TO think the matter
over
II the Judge was somuambulist,
there vas 10 telling whar ne might do.
Worse than tIal there WAS nc telling
what hr had already done. $40
I thought of the Luff case. Could it
ha nos.iDIe that Judge Pike, in one of
his sleep-waIking fits, had killed Saxon?
n looked very much like it. And the
dogoar9 Perhaps il was Luffs missing